The Twisting of the Sheep & Goats Teaching

Matt. 25:31-46 is about how Jesus will judge between sheep (true Christians) and goats (false Christians). Read it here. It is meant to teach us that Jesus expects believers to love one another in truth and deed, not just in words. When we care “for the least of these His brethren” (saints), we care for Him. But if we give lipservice only to those who have real needs, our neglect of members of His Body is proof that we do not love the brethren and are abiding in death (I Jn. 3:10-17). This is why those who do this receive “everlasting punishment.” (Matt. 25:46) This principle is applied to “all the nations,” meaning no matter which nation you live in, Jesus will judge you by your deeds, and give you either everlasting punishment or eternal life. James taught the same exact thing in Jam. 2:14-26. If a brother is naked, and we speak niceties but do not give him our extra tunic (Lk. 3:11), we have proven our faith is dead.

The popular dispensational explanation of this passage paints a completely different picture! They say that Jesus is determining which whole nations supported the modern state of Israel with weapons and money, and which did not. This is FALSE and DANGEROUS teaching. Here are some unbiblical conclusions this teaching leads to, and why these conclusions cannot be true:

1. It claims entire nations are saved based on national policies.

The truth: Scripture describes the earthly nations as raging and conspiring together against God (Psa. 2). Jesus said ALL nations would hate the elect (Matt. 24:9.) The indignation of the Lord is against ALL nations, and He will destroy them (Isa. 34:2). People are saved individually, not corporately. Only a remnant from every nation is saved (Rev. 5:9). The remnant includes only those who repent and obey Jesus. This remnant is, together, the holy international nation Peter described (I Pet. 2:9). Only this righteous nation, which keeps the Truth, enters life (Isa. 26:2).

2. It equates and identifies Jesus with a modern State which is filled with unbelievers. ( “I–Jesus–was thirsty, and you gave Me drink” is equal to “The modern state of Israel wanted weapons, and you supplied them.”)

The truth: Jesus only identifies with those who are “in Him.” These alone are His Body. He does not identify with any wicked person. He does not identify with a wicked nation that largely rejects Him, forbids evangelization, aborts approximately 40,000 babies per year (as of 2008), and oppresses another people group with its apartheid practices. In fact, the nation that forgets Him will be turned into hell (Psa. 9:17). Scripture is clear that “the Jerusalem which now is….shall NOT be heir” of God’s kingdom (Gal. 4:21-31). This doesn’t mean, of course, that no Jews can be saved. It only means that a Jew must enter the Kingdom of God through the same door Gentiles must enter (Jesus).

To put a gun in the hands of an Israeli, who then goes on to kill or incarcerate a Palestinian child who threw a rock at him, is not helping Jesus. To send money through John Hagee (one of many antichrists) to fund illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian land is likely robbing innocent people, some of whom are our Christian brothers and sisters. In fact, I think it very likely that Palestinian Christians have died due to American Christians lending their support to politicians that “supported Israel” for their own undisclosed (and almost certainly ungodly) reasons. Doubtless many have become refugees. What this means is that we can be killing or hurting believers and thinking we do God a service. But even if only unbelievers were killed and hurt, this does not mean we are justified, as we are to love all people. If you don’t know how the occupation works and what life has been like for many Palestinian people, please watch this video, in which a Jewish American describes what she learned while she was there. The video gives a clear presentation of facts (with pictures) about their human condition. And if you don’t think Jesus cares about their human condition, please read His teaching on the Good Samaritan again.

3. It promises eternal life to whole nations filled with unbelievers (USA) as long as they give aid to another unbelieving nation (Israel).

The truth: This is no small lie; this undercuts and completely perverts the very gospel of Jesus Christ. This doctrine implies that fornicators, adulterers, murderers, etc. in America will inherit the kingdom of God despite God’s Word to the contrary (I Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5-6), as long as their leaders make certain political moves. This would indicate that those who have repented and washed and kept themselves in the love of God, have really done so in vain, since the wicked and the righteous in America will inherit the same promise together. All we have to do, then, is vote in pro-Israel politicians, and we can eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. And truly, this is how many American Christians are living!

Now I know that many dispensationalists would reject this third conclusion. They realize it can’t be true. But, a consistent dispensationalist would have to come to this conclusion! And though many are inconsistent, the lie they have embraced still spills over into their behaviors. They have no concern for humanitarian issues, no carefulness in spreading the gospel, no obedience to the challenging teachings of the One they call Lord. If they are passionate, they are usually passionate about politics and earthly things rather than heavenly things. They profess to love God while ignoring the plight of true brethren in other lands. They profess to understand the gospel, while they despise one people group and blindly support another (this is respecting persons, something the gospel does not allow.) They may not emblazon crosses on shields and ride to Jerusalem to “slaughter the infidels,” but they may as well, for their eyes are just as blind, and their deeds are producing the same result.

Conclusion

May we all prayerfully consider just how much dispensational/zionist teaching perverts the Word of God. May our cherished dogmas and traditions be brought into submission to the One who showed us “the more excellent way.” May God, in His mercy, enable us to remove any colored glasses through which we are viewing the world. If we need to repent, let’s do it quickly. And may we who claim God’s Name be careful to do what He requires in Micah 6:8–to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.